Memorial Complex “ALZHIR”

The Memorial Complex dedicated to the victims of political repression, known as “ALZHIR,” is an expansive outdoor structure located approximately 40 kilometers from Astana, Kazakhstan. This site was once home to the notorious Akmolinsk Camp for Wives of Traitors to the Motherland, which operated between 1938 and 1953. During this dark period, thousands of women were imprisoned merely for being the spouses of those arrested and executed as “enemies of the people.” In total, over 18,000 women from 62 different nationalities were held within the confines of this camp.

The complex encompasses several monuments and facilities, including a museum, memorial stelae, the Arch of Sorrow, preserved barracks, and a “Stalin carriage” used to transport women to the camp. The grand opening of the “ALZHIR” memorial complex and museum took place on May 31, 2007, coinciding with the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Political Repression. This date marked the 70th anniversary of the onset of repressions in the USSR. Since then, the complex has become a key feature in travel guides for the capital of Kazakhstan, drawing numerous visitors eager to learn about this significant chapter in history.

During the Stalinist purges, a camp was established in Kazakhstan for women associated with those labeled as “enemies of the people” and “traitors.” This included close family members—mothers, sisters, and wives—who also suffered under repressive measures. In August 1937, an order was issued to create the camp in Akmol, with the first group of women arriving in the winter of 1938 from various cities across the USSR.

The conditions in the camp were horrific. The harsh Kazakh steppes in winter became a realm of unforgiving cold. Women were housed in barracks designed for 300 people, which had windows without glass. The accommodations included 300 bunk beds and only one wash basin for all. Those who could not fit were forced to sleep on the icy floor. Despite being near a lake, each prisoner was allocated merely a bucket of water per week. The camp was surrounded by multiple rows of barbed wire, as if housing the most dangerous criminals. Correspondence with relatives and the receipt of parcels were strictly forbidden.

None of the inmates were officially charged or tried; the authorities presumed their guilt from the outset. The fate of the women was overseen by the Special Committee of the NKVD (People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs). They were merely informed of the decision regarding their fates and required to sign for it.

Often, infants accompanied the women, many of whom were born behind barbed wire. Upon reaching the age of three, children were taken to orphanages, separating them permanently from their mothers. Tragically, many of these young ones did not survive, succumbing to the cold.

In 1946, the first prisoners began to be released from the camp, but this was largely a formality. The camp housed a textile factory where the women worked. To meet production quotas, they were not allowed to go home and continued to live and work in Akmol.

It was not until 1953 that “ALZHIR” was officially closed. The memorial complex was inaugurated in 2007 to honor this painful past.

The centerpiece of the ALZHIR Memorial Complex is the museum, which houses a diverse collection of artifacts narrating the lives of those imprisoned in the camp. Among the most valuable items are personal belongings of the female inmates who endured unimaginable conditions of cold and starvation. Each artifact is accompanied by a plaque detailing its significance and the name of the prisoner. The exhibits include:

• Articles of clothing
• Household items (coffee grinder, plate, canister)
• Documents
• Wristwatches, and more.

One of the most poignant displays is the diorama titled “The Seizure of Children from Camp Inmates,” which portrays the harrowing moments when children were forcibly taken from their mothers and placed into orphanages. The museum recreates the attire of NKVD staff, the prisoners, and the conditions within the barracks. Several visual reconstructions provide insight into the lives of the women behind bars, on their bunks, and so forth.

At the museum’s exit stands the so-called “Stalin carriage,” a model of the rail cars used to transport prisoners to the camp. Visitors are greeted by the “Arch of Sorrow,” a large metal structure erected to honor the victims of “ALZHIR.” In addition to this, the complex features numerous memorials, including:

• Commemorative plaques from various embassies representing citizens who were detained here,
• The sculptures “Despair and Helplessness,”
• The composition “Struggle and Hope,”
• The “Tears” stela, commemorating the victims of the camp, among others.

The memorial complex serves as a poignant reminder of a tragic historical era and stands as one of the largest memorial sites of its kind in the former USSR.

The “ALZHIR” Memorial Complex is situated in the village of Akmol, on the outskirts of Astana, and accessing it is quite straightforward. A public city bus, number 300, runs from the center of Astana to Akmol. The bus departs from the Asia Park shopping center every half hour from 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM on weekdays and from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM on weekends. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes.

Visitors can also drive to the memorial complex, as there is free parking available at the entrance.